Pilot Pulled from Flight After Suspected of Being Intoxicated

(MINNEAPOLIS) — The pilot of an American Eagle flight from Minneapolis to LaGuardia Airport in New York was arrested Friday on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol.

Passengers had not yet boarded American flight 4590 when someone mentioned the pilot reeked of alcohol.

Patrick Hogan at Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport said police went aboard to administer a breath test. “The legal limit for alcohol for pilots in Minnesota is .04 and the breathalyzer was beyond that,” he said.

Police arrested the pilot and brought him to a hospital.

“American Eagle has a well-established substance abuse policy that is designed to put the safety of our customers and employees first,” the airline said in a statement. “We are cooperating with authorities and conducting a full internal investigation. The pilot will be withheld from service pending the outcome of the investigation.”